SNIPPET: "Actually, two have been convicted by a jury for using their nightclubs to launder the proceeds of drug and weapons deals, one was acquitted of money laundering but has pled guilty to a drug trafficking charge, and one of those convicted of money laundering has now been charged with tax evasion. And that's not to mention the failure to pay state liquor taxes and fees, the unsolved murder of a one-time business partner, and various immigration-related issues. Money was transferred in to a relative and known Hizballah operative in Lebanon, and there are strong ties to the Lebanese expat community in Cote d'Ivoire.

Oh, and at least one of these guys still has a Facebook account complete with 2,000+ friends."

SNIPPET: “Austin nightclub mogul Mike Yassine (his real name is Hussein Ali Yassine) and his brother Steve (Mohammed Ali Yassine) will remain in federal custody. The two were denied bond in a court hearing Tuesday. Four others arrested were given bond.

Dozens of family and friends packed the courtroom, many openly crying. Yassine Enterprises is a family business and several family members were among those arrested.

An IRS agent testified that the Yassine brothers wired money to their uncle Mohammed Ishmael in Lebanon. Ishmael is believed to be connected to the terrorist group Hezbollah.”

SNIPPET: “Officials linked one suspect to the Texas Syndicate prison gang. They also said thousands of dollars were transferred to a Yassine relative in Lebanon who is reportedly connected to the militant group Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.”

SNIPPET: “Investigators said in court earlier that Mike Yassine told an informant he wanted to launder between $200,000 and $1 million in drug money through his clubs. They said evidence also includes videos of Steve Yassine and the informant setting up drug deals and gun purchases.

Authorities said Steve Yassine has not filed a tax return in four years, though his attorney has said he was led on by the informant.”

SNIPPET: “A taxicab drug deal. Undercover agents conducting surveillance at a family wedding. Hundreds of hours of recorded telephone and face-to-face conversations in a variety of languages. Money from the U.S. being sent to overseas groups accused of having ties to terrorism.”

SNIPPET: “At least one suspect has taken a plea deal. Alejandro Cueta Melendrez was sentenced this summer to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of probation.”

SNIPPET: “Yassine Enterprises founder Hussein Ali Mike Yassine and Hadi Yassine were convicted and are expected to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks within 60 days, courthouse officials said.

Jurors found Mohammed Ali Steve Yassine not guilty, but he is awaiting a second trial on federal drug charges. A date for that trial has not been announced.”

SNIPPET: “In other Yassine-related news, the memo from the DOJ also pointed out that 29-year-old Karin Faiq was recently arrested and deported by Honduran authorities after attempting to flee from his initial court appearance in March.

Fariq arrived in Florida on Friday, and will eventually be sent back to Texas to face his two drug-related charges in the Yassine scandal.”

On Tuesday, a federal grand jury returned a total of five indictments in connection with this investigation which contained conspiracy, as well as substantive, cocaine distribution and money laundering charges. According to those indictments, the defendants carried out their various schemes in 2007, 2008, and 2009. With respect to the money laundering indictment, defendants Hussein Ali Yassine, Hadi Ali Yassine, Mohammed Ali Yassine, and Ruales carried out their scheme in 2008 and 2009 and authorities believe that they used several business establishments located in downtown Austin to launder over $200,000 in cash, which they believed to be the proceeds of narcotics trafficking. Defendants Mohammed Ali Yassine and Nizar Kakiki are also charged with one count of transferring a firearm knowing that the firearm would be used to commit a drug trafficking crime. In addition to filing criminal charges, the government is seeking monetary judgements against the defendants totaling approximately $300,000 which represent property involved in the alleged offenses.

The 10 arrested defendants remain in federal custody pending detention hearings scheduled for Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Green in Austin. Upon conviction, maximum federal prison sentences for the defendants range anywhere from 20 years to life depending on the charge.

This investigation is being conducted by agents and investigators with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the Austin Police Department, together with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Attorney Generals Office, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the Texas Comptrollers Office. Assistant United States Attorney Gregg N. Sofer and Jennifer Freel are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

SNIPPET: “Their website is not particularly interesting, but came to our attention due to one of their domains being registered to Hizballah-linked Rakeem.net in Beirut, despite the organization being based in West Africa.”

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